Washington ranks No. 8 in latest Forbes "best states for business" rankings
In Forbes magazine’s 2014 Best States for Business, Washington finishes in 8th place. Not bad in the 50 state field. Win, place and show go to Utah, North Dakota and North Carolina, respectively. As is common in the Forbes rankings, Washington fares best on measures of economic vitality and falls down on business costs and quality […]
13th of November 2014
Clarifying the 2015 budget picture
Kriss posted yesterday on the improved revenue picture. As Brad Shannon reports, the higher revenue collections are accompanied by higher caseload and enrollment numbers. State budget director David Schumacher told the Caseload Forecast Council meeting in Olympia that an expected increase in K-12 school enrollments alone may add $380 million to the state’s costs through June 2017, which […]
3rd of November 2014
Supporting biotech and more with growth-oriented tax policy
H. Stewart Parker, a pioneer in Washington’s life sciences industry, writes in today’s Seattle Times that our state risks falling behind in the competition for biotech investment. Washington has a lot going for it business-wise, but we must not underestimate the competition for the life-sciences industry. The Washington state Legislature did not renew our industry tax […]
23rd of July 2014
States should preempt the ability of cities to set their own minimum wage
Blue metros – like Seattle, San Francisco, and NYC – are the new darlings of the progressive left. That’s the theme of my column today. The wave has been building for more than a decade. But elections of liberal mayors like Ed Murray in Seattle and Bill De Blasio in New York City give it […]
3rd of June 2014
Seattle adopts a $15 minimum wage. Now what?
As expected, the Seattle City Council yesterday unanimously adopted a $15 minimum wage, hewing close to Mayor Ed Murray’s proposal. They did this, as the Seattle Times reports, without knowing what the consequences will be. “No city or state has gone this far. We go into uncharted territory,” said Seattle City Council member Sally Clark […]
31st of May 2014
Seattle's minimum wage law should recognize franchises are small businesses
The Seattle Times offers some good editorial counsel to the Seattle City Council. Noting that the $15 minimum wage ordinance treats franchises as big business, the Time points out that the decision makes little no sense. [There are] 1,700-some independent franchisees operating in the City of Seattle. In addition to fast-food franchises, these are businesses offering […]
27th of May 2014
Speaker Frank Chopp in Publicola: "My goal is to pass an increased statewide minimum wage."
Publicola asked House Speaker Frank Chopp if he regretted not moving Rep. Jessyn Farrell’s proposed $12 statewide minimum wage last session. They publish his response here. This is the crux, but you’d benefit from reading it in context. My goal is to pass an increased statewide minimum wage for Washington workers and families. I am […]
23rd of May 2014
Seattle's $15 minimum wage: Buyer's remorse before the sale
Even as it was being announced and celebrated by some members of his income inequality committee, the political leaders acknowledged the Seattle mayor’s $15 minimum wage proposal would undergo tweaking before it was adopted by the city council. Remember Councilmember Nick Licata’s comments about legislators liking to get their “fingerprints” on such things. There’s been […]
20th of May 2014
Seattle Times editorial board favors data-center tax incentives. Here's why they're right.
The Times editorial gets right to the point. When lawmakers return for business in January, they should reauthorize Washington’s server-farm tax break, and pronto. Our September 2013 report, Economic Impact of Data Centers on Central Washington (clever title, that), helps explain why. World class industries have located in Central Washington, providing stable, diversified em- ployment and expanded tax bases for […]
15th of May 2014
Washington ranks No. 33 in Chief Executive magazine's 2014 "Best & Worst States for Business" report
The springtime business climate reports are beginning to appear. Chief Executive magazine is out with its annual “best and worst states for business” rankings. Washington comes in at No. 33 (No. 1 is best and goes to Texas). The Evergreen State moved up three places from last year’s No. 36, but is still well entrenched […]